•-The Eastern Sumi Sub-Hoho expresses its profound gratitude to the DAN Government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his Cabinet Colleagues, for taking note of the plight of the Sumi inhabitants of Tuensang and Kiphire districts who have long been knocking the doors of justice to extend the benefit of job reservation to them as accorded to their counterparts who are similarly circumstanced.
In the backdrop of this development, it is pertinent to make mention of the historical background which led to the birth of 33% job reservation in the state Government of Nagaland. Infact, it was the order of the Government of India during the Prime Ministership of Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the year 1976, which granted 33% job reservation to the inhabitants of Tuensang Area (then known as the North East Frontier Agency), with a view to address the problems faced by the inhabitants of that area.
It was unfortunate that the object sought to be achieved by the said Order got diluted when the Government in power in the State then, classified 33% job reservation on the basis of tribe and not the basis of the object and the area of application, as was originally conceived. Such dispensation of power out rightly deprived and denied Sumi-inhabitants of Tuensang district and the present Kiphire district (formerly a sub-division under Tuensang district), the benefits which was meant to be equally administered to its citizens, being inhabitants of a specified area and placed under similar circumstances.
The helpless victims bore the brunt for a period spanning over three decades, all at the cost of a classification based on a reason, as if to say it was wrong for God to have placed them and their fore-fathers in a certain area of location and thus deserve to suffer the circumstances which otherwise required attention in the case of other similarly circumstanced. Whether that was intelligible differentia, is a big question.
At present, out of 33% job reservation, 25% is set apart for the inhabitant of four districts such as Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire districts covering six tribes such as Chang, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Phom, Yimchunger and Sangtam. The remaining 8% is granted to the three tribes such as Chakhesang, Zeliangrong and Pochury tribe. The Cabinet, in its recent decision, has increased the said 8% reservation ceiling to 11% so as to include the Sumi inhabitant of Kiphire district and the Tuensang district within the ambit of 11% job reservation, along with the existing tribe of Chakhesang, Zeliangrong and Pochury tribe. With the new equation, it has increased the total reservation ceiling from the existing 33% to 36%.
The delivery of justice by the DAN Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio brings hope for light at the end of the tunnel for those who have almost lost it along the journey. Justice delayed but not Justice denied after all.
In the backdrop of this development, it is pertinent to make mention of the historical background which led to the birth of 33% job reservation in the state Government of Nagaland. Infact, it was the order of the Government of India during the Prime Ministership of Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the year 1976, which granted 33% job reservation to the inhabitants of Tuensang Area (then known as the North East Frontier Agency), with a view to address the problems faced by the inhabitants of that area.
It was unfortunate that the object sought to be achieved by the said Order got diluted when the Government in power in the State then, classified 33% job reservation on the basis of tribe and not the basis of the object and the area of application, as was originally conceived. Such dispensation of power out rightly deprived and denied Sumi-inhabitants of Tuensang district and the present Kiphire district (formerly a sub-division under Tuensang district), the benefits which was meant to be equally administered to its citizens, being inhabitants of a specified area and placed under similar circumstances.
The helpless victims bore the brunt for a period spanning over three decades, all at the cost of a classification based on a reason, as if to say it was wrong for God to have placed them and their fore-fathers in a certain area of location and thus deserve to suffer the circumstances which otherwise required attention in the case of other similarly circumstanced. Whether that was intelligible differentia, is a big question.
At present, out of 33% job reservation, 25% is set apart for the inhabitant of four districts such as Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire districts covering six tribes such as Chang, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Phom, Yimchunger and Sangtam. The remaining 8% is granted to the three tribes such as Chakhesang, Zeliangrong and Pochury tribe. The Cabinet, in its recent decision, has increased the said 8% reservation ceiling to 11% so as to include the Sumi inhabitant of Kiphire district and the Tuensang district within the ambit of 11% job reservation, along with the existing tribe of Chakhesang, Zeliangrong and Pochury tribe. With the new equation, it has increased the total reservation ceiling from the existing 33% to 36%.
The delivery of justice by the DAN Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio brings hope for light at the end of the tunnel for those who have almost lost it along the journey. Justice delayed but not Justice denied after all.
N. Zhetovi Sumi, Ex MLA & Chairman
Eastern Sumi Sub-Hoho
Tuensang/Kiphire District
